Children’s liturgy – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Preparation of the worship space
Colour: green
Song suggestions
Follow me, follow me (175, Celebration Hymnal for Everyone)
Welcome: Today we hear about how it is not always easy to follow Jesus or to accept what God wants to happen in our lives. Even Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples found it difficult. Let’s think some more about this today…
Opening prayer: Christ Jesus, you call us to follow you. May we have the courage to answer that call, even in the most difficult times. Amen.
First reading (optional): Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalm: Psalm 114:1-6, 8-9 r. 9
Gospel acclamation: everyone stands and sings the acclamation together. Suggestions include: ‘Halle, halle, halle’ (Caribbean) from ‘Sing With the World’, Alison Adam & John Bell; ‘Alleluia’ (Zimbabwe), Abraham Maraire Publications, WCC & GIA; ‘Celtic Alleluia’ (traditional); ‘Alleluia! Raise the Gospel’ from ‘Go Before Us’, Bernadette Farrell, OCP Publications.
Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
Gospel reflection: What do you remember about today’s reading?
Jesus asks his friends, the disciples, a question. He asks them who people think he is.
What answer do the disciples give? (Elijah, John the Baptist – you may want to remind the children who these people are)
Jesus then asks the disciples who they think he is. What does Peter say?
Peter believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He has faith in Jesus.
But then Jesus starts to tell the disciples about what will happen to him. That he will suffer and be killed, but that after three days he will rise again. Peter struggles to believe all this - he does not want to believe that his friend, the Son of God, will suffer and die.
Peter feels afraid that Jesus might leave them. And he wants to protect Jesus from harm because he cares about him.
It is sometimes hard to do what God wants us to do, just like it was for Peter, because we are afraid, and we do not want to get hurt, or for those that we love to be hurt.
Jesus tells us that it will not always be easy to follow him, but that we must have courage, because God will always be with us.
Can you think of a time when you were afraid and needed courage?
What does it mean to follow Jesus? What can we do to show that we are following Jesus?
Can you think of a time when you have found it difficult to do what you knew was right and follow Jesus? Why was it so difficult?
Tatá lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazil is the largest country in South America, and the fifth largest country in the world. Nearly 40 million people in Brazil live in poverty.
There is a picture of Tatá in the accompanying photo PowerPoint which you can download and print to show to the children.
Tatá lives in a building which used to be a hotel. Lots of families who didn’t have a home moved into the building. The families pay £4 a month to help keep the building in a good condition. They are also supported by CAFOD.
Tatá has been living therefor a long time. She lives with her mother, her two brothers, her six cousins and her three aunts. They all share two rooms and a kitchen.
Tatá likes living in this building. She says, “It is better than living on the streets.”
How do you think Tatá must have felt living on the streets? How would you feel if you did not have somewhere safe to live?
Each floor in the building has some people who go to monthly assemblies and help take decisions about the running of the building.
Tatá and her friend Ninha are members of a special children’s group. They talk about how to treat the building with respect, how to look after and clean it and how to organise their games and toys.
Do you think Tatá has shown courage in her life? How? How do you think Tatáis showing that she follows Jesus?
Will you be brave in the coming week? What will you do over the coming week to show that you follow Jesus?
Intercessions You may want to ask the children to offer their own prayers or
you can use the suggestions below.
We are called to follow Jesus and so together we pray:
We pray for all the world’s leaders: that they may have the courage to make the decisions that are best for all people, even when it is difficult. Lord, in your mercy…
We pray for Tatá and for all our brothers and sisters living in poverty: that they may be able to work together and build a better future for themselves. Lord, in your mercy…
We pray for our parish, families and friends: that we may be true followers of Jesus, reaching out to help people who are poor, sick, lonely or frightened. Lord, in your mercy…
Closing prayer: God of light, as we try to follow you, give us the courage to reach out and help others, so that we can build a fairer world. Amen.
Activity suggestions
Ask the children to colour in the accompanying illustration and to write in the banner how they will follow Jesus this week.
Ask the children to tell their family all that they have heard and thought about today. Ask them to try and show how they are following Jesus in all their actions this week.